NPS Friendship Sails to Newburyport, ENHC and National Archives Exhibit in Salem, and
Trails & Sails Across the Entire Region
In August, I was not able to write a column about the activities of the Essex National Heritage Commission to keep all of you up-to-date on our work. This was the first time that I have missed a deadline in the five years that we have been providing monthly information through this newspaper. During the last month or so, my wife and I have downsized and moved from the home we built in Danvers almost four decades ago to a new location in the same town. The work that went into that move was substantial and even now we are still unpacking boxes and trying to locate all of the precious memories we took with us. For any of you have also experienced a move after many years in one location, I am certain you can understand just how complex and time consuming such a move can be. We are just about settled and it is good to be sitting at this keyboard once again and providing an update on the work of the Commission.
Friendship Visits the City of Newburyport
On the last weekend in August, just before Labor Day weekend, the Flagship of Essex County, the Friendship sailed to Newburyport to help celebrate the long and storied maritime history of that community. The replica ship that was built by the ENHC’s senior partner, the National Park Service to help relate the maritime history of the Salem Maritime Historic Site and the region sailed into the historic Newburyport harbor and was open to the public of that part of the county for three days. During the three-day stay in port, over 7000 area residents from that part of the region visited the ship free of any charges or fees. The Commission is most appreciative of the generous sponsors from that community that made the event such a success. We offer special thanks to the three Newburyport financial institutions that were the primary sponsors, The Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank, The Institution for Savings and the Provident Bank. We also want to thank the Newburyport Chamber of Commerce, the North of Boston Convention and Visitor Bureau and the Community Newspaper Group for their cooperation and support for this effort. This important regional effort and partnership would also not have been possible without the help of Congressman John Tierney, Mayor Moak of Newburyport, Mayor Kezer of Amesbury. Town Manager Harrington of Salisbury, Selectman Russo, of Newbury, Mayor Driscoll of Salem and all of the other elected officials from that region that offered their support. We know that the many residents of the region who visited and enjoyed the Friendship during her stay in Newburyport join us in thanking all who made the visit possible.
Multiple Exhibits at NPS Regional Visitor Center in Salem
If you have a chance to visit the National Park Service’s Regional Visitor Center in Salem in the next few weeks you will have the opportunity to view the magnificent murals that were prepared to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the ENHC. The murals depict the history of the county and the presentations are worth a visit to Salem. At the same time an exhibit presented by the National Archives and Records Administration, the newest partner of the Essex National Heritage Commission that features the records of the merchant ship Mount Vernon can be viewed. The regional Center in Salem is always a wonderful place to visit and the two current exhibits make a visit even more meaningful. The NPS has updated its film, Where Past is Present, that depicts the history of the region and a viewing of that presentation is most worthwhile.
Trails and Sails Set for September
Planning for the weekend of September 23-24, the 5th annual Trails & Sails: A Weekend of Walks and Water is underway. This year’s weekend will be filled with events that celebrate the natural, cultural and historic resources throughout the Essex national Heritage Area. This year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever with two new elements, Art Escapes and Doors Open have been added to expand the program to a newer higher level. This year’s landmark ENHC event will feature 150 programs and events on 85 sites all over the region, and over 60% of the events offered will be new for 2006.
The new feature of the weekend, Doors Open will encourage awareness of the unique architecture, industry and redevelopment efforts in the Essex National Heritage Area. These new events will bring Trails and Sails participants behind doors that are usually closed and allow the viewing of some of the region’s best-kept secrets including:
- Historic Restoration of Automobiles, Amesbury
- Up close to a church steeple, Topsfield
- The Pinnacle of Water Powered Industry, Lawrence
- The Old Mill at EBSCO, Ipswich
- The Tenney Gatehouse and Greycourt Estate, Methuen
The Essex National Heritage Commission certainly appreciates the support that has been offered for Trails and Sails by, TD Banknorth, North Shore 104.9, Eagle Publishing Company and Eastern Bank. Look for your guide for the 2006 edition of Trails and Sails on the Essex Heritage web site at TrialsandSails.org.